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Rain Rain Go Away!

Here in Michigan we don’t often have to worry about natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. However, we do have instances of flooding, forest fires and a few tornadoes. But, we often don’t think about the building fires, water leaks and sewer backups and so on, that cause just as much or more damage than the rare natural disasters. In light of all the recent rain I thought I would write this blog about disaster recovery. How would your business survive a disaster?

The impact of a disaster on the day-to-day life for employees and the communities where they live is enormous. Firms should focus on addressing the human needs of their people first and foremost in any recovery process.

The key to disaster recovery is to have a plan so that you know what your steps are immediately following the disaster.

Know how you are going to communicate with your staff. For example, develop a phone tree

How will you meet the needs of your staff? How will you get them paid? Will you provide time off so they can recover their personal property losses? Will you provide mental health care? Don’t underestimate the personal impact a disaster can have on your staff.

Conduct drills for employees so that they know where to go and what to do in case of an emergency.

Know where you will set up operations if your physical office is destroyed.

How will you access crucial documents? Make sure to back up your computer and keep the backup off-site. Consider using the Cloud for maintaining crucial documents.

Know how you will communicate with clients and customers. You may have to have a business phone line routed to your home or temporary location of business. Are your client phone numbers and address accessible without access to your computer?

Make a plan of the services you need to recover and provide first.

Do you have insurance? Is the coverage appropriate given the size of your business and the likelihood of certain events in your part of the country? Does it cover business interruptions for periods when you are unable to operate?

If a disaster happens to a member of your community, can you help? Can you provide space or let your staff donate time to assist them?

A disaster recovery plan needs to be developed with variations and alternatives in case the disaster happens during working hours or after work hours. Some of the items may need to have alternative plans depending on the type of disaster, you may need to handle tornado damage differently than flood damage. No one wants to think about how you prepare for a disaster that destroys the entire city in which you do business, but it happens. The best way to recover is to develop a plan and communicate it to your staff. Don’t know where to start? Google disaster recovery plans for examples.

"Working abroad? You can have confidence in my ability to handle the complexities of working overseas. Know that I am available to answer your questions, even if you live in another state, another time zone or another country."

--Scot Smith

"Is Payroll giving you a headache? I am here to take the confusion out of payroll and make it simple for you."

--Melissa King

"Do you need to know what your business is worth? As a CVA I handle everything from estates to divorce to mergers and acquisitions. Count on me for prompt and professional service."

--Heather Graham

"Too time-consuming to make a trip into our office for help? I can save you time and money by using technology to remotely fix problems or just answer questions."

--Jennifer Wentworth

"Business valuation and litigation support are serious business. I take the time to put myself in your shoes and understand your needs. The best outcome is achieved when your business valuation expert truly understands your situation." --Paul Murray

"Want more than just tax preparation? I have always told prospective clients that most anyone can provide accounting and tax services from a compliance perspective. Good CPAs provide tax saving strategies and other business insights to increase profitability." --Gene Smith

"Does your business need financial direction? I will help you understand your financial reports and set reasonable expectations, both of which are key to making sound business decisions."

--Keith Frame

"Getting stuck in QuickBooks? I can get you unstuck, and help you learn the software to run your business more effectively."

--Tina Powell

"Tax season got you stressed? I am here to help get you through tax packets and documents, so you can walk away with the weight off of your shoulders."

--Sara Brubaker

"New to accounting or not sure what questions to ask? I understand those anxieties and am happy to answer your questions and put your concerns to rest."

--Anna Philbert

"Perplexed by tax documents? I am here to answer questions and help you understand the forms, packets of information and required payments our CPAs calculate for you."

"Working abroad? You can have confidence in my ability to handle the complexities of working overseas. Know that I am available to answer your questions, even if you live in another state, another time zone or another country."

--Scot Smith

"Is Payroll giving you a headache? I am here to take the confusion out of payroll and make it simple for you."

--Melissa King

"Do you need to know what your business is worth? As a CVA I handle everything from estates to divorce to mergers and acquisitions. Count on me for prompt and professional service."

--Heather Graham

"Too time-consuming to make a trip into our office for help? I can save you time and money by using technology to remotely fix problems or just answer questions."

--Jennifer Wentworth

"Business valuation and litigation support are serious business. I take the time to put myself in your shoes and understand your needs. The best outcome is achieved when your business valuation expert truly understands your situation." --Paul Murray

"Want more than just tax preparation? I have always told prospective clients that most anyone can provide accounting and tax services from a compliance perspective. Good CPAs provide tax saving strategies and other business insights to increase profitability." --Gene Smith

"Does your business need financial direction? I will help you understand your financial reports and set reasonable expectations, both of which are key to making sound business decisions."

--Keith Frame

"Getting stuck in QuickBooks? I can get you unstuck, and help you learn the software to run your business more effectively."

--Tina Powell

"Tax season got you stressed? I am here to help get you through tax packets and documents, so you can walk away with the weight off of your shoulders."

--Sara Brubaker

"New to accounting or not sure what questions to ask? I understand those anxieties and am happy to answer your questions and put your concerns to rest."

--Anna Philbert

"Perplexed by tax documents? I am here to answer questions and help you understand the forms, packets of information and required payments our CPAs calculate for you."